Walters: No culture of racism existed

By Debra Friedman, STAFF WRITER

Published 2:35 am, Tuesday, September 1, 2009

NEW HAVEN -- Former police Chief James Walters and other retired commanding officers Tuesday in U.S. District Court denied claims that there was a culture of racism within the Greenwich Police Department.

Lawyers for the town went to the heart of the issue with Walters, the man at the center of a federal racial discrimination lawsuit filed by eight minority police officers.

"What was the policy, if any, against retaliation for claims of racial discrimination?" asked attorney Robert Mitchell.

"There is no toleration of anything along those lines," Walters replied.

Mitchell mentioned the police union's vote of no confidence against Walters.

"Did you retaliate against those who brought complaints?" Mitchell asked.

"No, I did not," said Walters.

The town called Walters to testify, along with former Chief Peter Robbins, Capt. Michael DeAngelo, former First Selectman Richard Bergstresser and Michele Redwine, the town's former affirmative action officer. Walters will return to the stand Wednesday.

The eight officers said that under Walters' term they were denied promotions and special assignments based on race. They are seeking monetary and emotional damages.

Officer John Woodward, a black plaintiff, testified Tuesday that once Walters took over he was forced out of a firing range instructor job, a position for which he had received a commendation.

"It made me feel irrelevant and diminished," said Woodward.

When ex-Chief Robbins took the stand, Mitchell asked him if he had ever used racial epithets, as has been stated in previous testimony.

"No," said Robbins. "My philosophy in my tenure as chief was to try to show diversity."

Mitchell also asked about grievances.

During your time as chief did you hear about any grievances of racial discrimination?" Mitchell asked.

"Never," said Robbins.

But attorney Lewis Chimes, who is representing the six black and two Latino plaintiffs, brought up Sgt. Barry Ritch, who multiple people have described in testimony as making racially insensitive jokes and remarks.

"Is it your testimony that you never heard Barry Ritch make comments of a racial nature during your entire career?" asked Chimes.

"I never heard any," said Robbins.

Chimes then pointed to two documents showing write-ups for comments made by Ritch in the 1990s, which Robbins would have had to be aware of.

"Did you report that incident to the first selectman at the time," asked Chimes.

"I would have," said Robbins.

"Is there any evidence this was reported?" replied Chimes.

"No," said Robbins.

Chimes said that Robbins changed a police policy that required the chief to report all outside complaints to the first selectman when he came to hold the office.

During testimony from Redwine, who was the affirmative action officer from 1991-1997, she described the policies in place to report racial discrimination complaints within the town and said retaliation against bringing a claim was not tolerated.

Redwine said when a formal complaint was filed she often tried to resolve the issue with their immediate supervisor. A juror asked if Redwine was allowed to keep informal complaints confidential. Redwine said that was allowed, but then said she was required to document everything, which would be shared with her staff.

"They could come off the record," said Redwine. "But I had an obligation to record everything that came to my attention."

On cross examination, attorney Robert Richardson pointed out that Redwine was charged with overseeing complaints from thousands of employees.

"Is it fair to say you had a fair amount on your plate?" asked Richardson.

"Yes," said Redwine.

Richardson also asked if Redwine felt a supervising officer who overheard racial remarks should be required to report it.

"Yes," said Redwine.

Now Playing:

The affirmative action officer during the time Walters was chief will be called Wednesday along with the town's labor relations director Alfred Cava, current police Chief David Ridberg, a statistician and a federal drug task force supervisor.